CHAMPCAR/CART: Columbus CART Town Meeting announcement

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Jul 19, 2002, 5:35 AM

Mario Andretti, Bobby Rahal, Chris Pook and more to participate in "CART Town Meeting" in Columbus, August 1. INDIANAPOLIS (July 18, 2002) - Establishing a forum that will allow fans of Champ Car racing to discuss their sport with some of the ...

Mario Andretti, Bobby Rahal, Chris Pook and more to participate in "CART Town Meeting" in Columbus, August 1.

INDIANAPOLIS (July 18, 2002) - Establishing a forum that will allow fans of Champ Car racing to discuss their sport with some of the most influential and established personalities in open-wheel racing, Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (CART) announced today that it will host a "CART Town Meeting" in Columbus, Ohio at PromoWest Pavilion on Thursday, Aug. 1.

Held in advance of the CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Aug. 9 - 11, the event is officially titled a "CART Town Meeting: A Forum on the FedEx Championship Series in Ohio and Beyond." The featured panel will include CART President and CEO Christopher R. Pook, Champ Car legend Mario Andretti, CART FedEx Championship Series team owner, former driver and Ohioan Bobby Rahal and CART Steward and former Mid-Ohio chief driving instructor Chris Kneifel. Former driver and current CBS and SPEED Channel television analyst Derek Daly will serve as the evening's emcee. Additional forum participants will be announced in the coming days.

The CART Town Meeting is free and open to all CART fans who register in advance. The evening's highlight will feature a question and answer session moderated by Daly from 7 - 8:30 p.m., with all attendees welcome to ask questions. The question and answer program will be followed by a brief reception where guests will have the opportunity to meet and socialize with the evening's panelists.

Those in attendance at the Town Meeting will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets on site for the CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio at an advanced, sale price. In addition, fans will be eligible to win one of nine spots in the CART FANatics promotion, which gives fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be immersed in the pre-race activities as Champ Car teams prepare for battle on race day at Mid-Ohio. Attendees can also register to become one of four chosen to present an award on the victory podium at the CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio post-race ceremony, win a pace car ride around Mid-Ohio's 2.258-mile permanent road course or take home a checkered flag signed by every Champ Car driver.

Beginning Friday, July 19, ticket reservations for the CART Town Meeting can be made through CART's official web site, www.CART.com, or the official web site of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, www.midohio.com. A limited number of tickets are available for the event and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis with priority status being given to members of the CART Winner's Circle Fan Club.

Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (NYSE: MPH) owns, operates and markets the CART FedEx Championship Series. Former series champions Michael Andretti and Jimmy Vasser are among the stars who will battle for the 2002 FedEx Championship Series title on ovals, temporary street circuits and permanent road courses. CART Champ Cars are thoroughbred racing machines that travel at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour, showcasing the technical expertise of manufacturers such as American Honda, Ford Motor Company, Toyota, Lola Cars, Reynard Motorsport and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC. The 20-race 2002 CART FedEx Championship Series will be broadcast by new television partners, CBS, FOX and SPEED Channel. CART also owns and operates its top development series, the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship. Learn more about CART's open-wheel racing series at www.CART.com.